Over 125,000 flee Lebanon for Syria as crisis deepens — half are children

More than 125,000 people have crossed from Lebanon into Syria since early March, according to the International Organization for Migration (IOM), with around half of them children, as reported in an IOM news release. The latest data from IOM’s Displacement Tracking Matrix in Syria show that the vast majority are Syrian nationals, with around 7,000 Lebanese also among the arrivals. Between 2 and 16 March, over 82,000 people entered Syria’s 14 governorates, spreading pressure across a country whose infrastructure is already weakened after more than a decade of crisis.

IOM Director General Amy Pope warned that “the risk of a much larger displacement crisis is real and growing.” The figures highlight not just numbers, but vulnerability: families arriving with almost nothing, many of whom have already worn out their coping mechanisms. Cash, food, shelter, and healthcare are among the most urgent needs.

Key destinations like Ar‑Raqqa, Damascus, and Homs are already under strain. Around 21% of arrivals have gone to Ar‑Raqqa, including remote areas where basic services are limited; others have clustered in densely populated urban zones around Damascus, pushing water, sanitation, and health systems further. IOM stressed that the high number of children crossing the border demands a protection‑centered response — movement must be safe, voluntary, and dignified, and support must reach the most vulnerable fast.

IOM is joining the UN Secretary‑General’s call for restraint and de‑escalation, reiterating that civilians and displaced people must be protected at all times and that international humanitarian law must be respected. With the situation shifting rapidly, faster and more flexible international support will be critical to avoid a deeper crisis.